A new poll commissioned by Unite America shows a majority of Louisiana voters prefer an open primary system over a closed primary system. Sean Richardson has more.
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A Morgan City woman was arrested for animal cruelty after police found many dead cats inside her home. Colleen Crain has more.
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On again, off again – as of this morning, the execution of Jessie Hoffman is off. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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A recent poll by JMC Analytics and Polling, commissioned by Unite America, found that Louisiana voters overwhelmingly favor the open primary system that has all candidates of all parties on a single ballot. JMC Founder John Couvillon (KOO-vee-ahn) says support for an open primary has the advantage of simplicity.
Couvillon says under the closed primary system, it would be split treatment. You would also have a party primary, a party runoff, and then a general election.
Couvillon says the biggest surprise he saw on the poll was that only a third of those polled were aware there was going to be a change.
Cut 6 (12) “…favorite candidates.”
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Morgan City Police arrested a woman for animal cruelty after finding several dead cats inside her home. Officers conducted a welfare check at 71-year-old Sheri Hite’s residence. Captain John Schaff says while attempting to enter the home, police saw a dead cat through a window and smelled a strong odor. Upon entering, they discovered many more dead cats throughout the house.
Schaff says Hite claimed she had recently collected cats from Baton Rouge and planned to dispose of the deceased ones.
Schaff says while he cant speak to her mental state, he believes that will be made clear during her trial.
Cut 9 (08) “…the judicial process.”
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It’s off again — for now. The execution of Jessie Hoffman is once again put on hold. This time, it’s 19th Judicial District Court Judge Chip Moore who issued a temporary restraining order halting Jessie Hoffman’s execution pending a hearing at 9:30 this morning. Loyola University New Orleans College of Law professor Dane Ciolino says such last-minute legal maneuvering by the defense is not unusual.
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Ciolino says while this legal maneuvering may be typical, the argument Hoffman and his lawyers are making is not.
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Hoffman’s execution had been scheduled for this evening. Ciolino says depending on what happens today in both Judge Moore’s courtroom and at the U.S. Supreme Court, it still may happen.
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Hoffman is awaiting execution for kidnapping, raping and killing 28-year-old advertising executive Molly Elliott in 2016. He’s not contesting his death sentence; rather, he’s contesting the method of execution.
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As part of the deal to avoid a government shutdown last week, Congress approved another short-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program. Senator Bill Cassidy says while he appreciates that, that’s not enough. He’s introduced a bill that would reauthorize the program for two years. In a floor speech, Senator Cassidy says millions of Americans count on the program.
Cut 13 (08) “…asking too much.”
Cassidy said this is the 33rd time in the last ten years that Congress has approved a temporary short-term reauthorization of the program. He says those who rely on it need more peace of mind than that.
Cut 14 (15) “…would be unsettling.”
Cassidy says while the temporary reauthorizations are better than nothing, families who rely on the NFIP deserve better.
Cut 15 (12) “…period of time.”
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LSU football has added 16 players through the transfer portal and Coach Brian Kelly says they’ve brought the right mindset. Kelly says he’s noticed it during spring practice…
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is learning a new group of receivers. The Tigers return Aaron Anderson, Zavion Thomas and Chris Hilton and there are new additions through the transfer portal in Barion Brown, Destyn Hill and Nic Anderson. Nussmeier says he’s impressed with the group so far…
Hilton missed the first six games of last season because of an ankle injury he suffered toward the end of preseason camp. When he returned, it took a few games to shake off the rust. Hilton finally found his groove in the regular season finale with two touchdown catches against Oklahoma and had four catches for 113 yards and a touchdown in the bowl game against Baylor. Hilton says he learned to trust God’s timing…
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Tight end Juwan Johnson is back with the Saints after signing a three-year, 30-million-dollar contract. Johnson is coming off a season in which he caught 50 passes for 548 yards and three touchdowns, but he believes there’s another level he can get to…
Johnson says he also looked closely at signing with Denver and Seattle, before deciding he wanted to stay in New Orleans…